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What is the LCM of 12 and 16

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What Is The LCM Of 12 And 16?

What is LCM?

LCM (Least Common Multiple) of two or more numbers is the smallest number that is a multiple of all of them.

How To Find The LCM?

There are the following three methods to find the LCM:-

  1. Listing the Multiples

Firstly, list the multiples of each given number and then find the smallest multiple the numbers have in common with each other.

  1. Prime Factorization

Jot down the prime factors of each number. Write down each number of times a prime number is found in the prime factorization of each number. Multiply all the prime factors through the multiplication of each number once for each of its occurrences.

  1. Common Factors Grid

Write the numbers in the topmost row of the Common Factors grid drawn, leaving a blank column on the left area. Then write the smallest common prime factor of the numbers in the space provided to the left. Divide each of the numbers by the common prime factor. Repeat this till no common factors exist in the grid. Multiply all the numbers in the first column with the numbers at the bottom-most row and you will get the LCM.

LCM Of 12 And 16

To find the least common multiple of 12 and 16, follow the steps that have been stated below:-

  • Firstly, find the multiples of each number as follows-

Multiples of 12 = 12 ,  24 ,  36 , 48 , 60 ,….& so on

Multiples of 16 = 16 ,  32 , 48 , 64 ,….& so on

  • From the above multiples, find that common multiple which is the smallest

We can observe that 48 is the smallest number that is a common multiple of both 12 and 16. Therefore, the LCM of 12 and 16 is 48.